Introduction

Let us introduce ourselves.

Princess Jemima

Big T

Humpty Doo

Tweet us: #imootB2 – win a prize!

Next - JG - Avatars

Avatars

Adding an Avatar to your profile is a simple but powerful way to create a connection with your learners or peers in your Moodle Course.

An avatar can create a sense of personal identity. To add an avatar to your profile simply go to the

edit page and upload an image. In Moodle the avatars appear all over the place, from the

online users block to the posts you make in forums. 

10 sites to create Avatars

Next - ML - Forums

Forums

The forum module is an activity where students and teachers can exchange ideas by posting comments. There are four basic forum types. Forum posts can be graded by the teacher or other students.

A forum can contribute significantly to successful communication and community building in an online environment. You can use forums for many innovative purposes in educational settings, but teaching forums and student forums are arguably the two more significant distinctions.

When you decide to use a discussion forum as an activity in an e-learning environment, it is important to be aware that your time will be needed!

If your goal is to encourage discussion, the forum will only work if the participants feel there is a need/reason to participate and they will gain something from the experience.

Try it! Post something to the general iMoot forums or to the forums in our iMoot course.

Next - JL - Messages

Messages

Between any Moodle user

Other types of messaging: Admin, Teacher to group

Also via People block, Online Users block, clicking on someone’s profile or messages on submission of assignments

User can set their preferences in My Profile Settings

Question: Have you messaged anyone on the iMoot site? Feel free to

Message us.Next - JG - Blogs

Blogs

Blogs are available within Moodle. Each user has their own blog and can

also register their external blogs, such as Blogger or Wordpress, so that entries are automatically included in their Moodle blog or vice versa.

Blogs can be used to nurture writing and reflection, with ‘memes’ used as a framework to scaffold reflection and encourage discussion.

You can easily bring posts into and export them out to an external blog, so if you would like to teach using blogs you can co-ordinate your internal Moodle blog.

Food for thought: Are Blogs relevant in today’s educational environment? Are they out-dated, old fashioned or do they have a place? How would you use them effectively?

Next - ML - Chat

Chat

The chat activity module allows participants to have a real-time synchronous discussion in a Moodle course.

So, a real time one on one conversation.

You can add the following items to your online conversation

Smilies :) ;)

Emoting /me smiling, /me lol

Links

Beeps

HTML I’ve <strong>missed</strong> you

Like to Chat? Join us in our iMoot course today (23rd May) at 3pm (Sydney

time) – Receive a BADGE!

Next - JL - Dialogue

Dialogue

Plugin Teacher-Student-Teacher or Teacher to group Attachments

Survey:Do YOU use Dialogue? What do you use it for?

Next- JG - Conclusion

Conclusion

The development of a robust online learning community is an important key to engaging students, no matter what age or stage, in the learning process. The Communication tools outlined in the presentation are examples of a positive way to foster both learning and a sense of community.

According to MacGowan, 2007“Online course construction also requires the instructor to build virtually what are often conveyed through physical or vocal cues such as, setting, tone, time parameters, communication style, etiquette—even humour or encouragement. All these aspects must be designed and transferred quite consciously and deliberately into a primarily text based world”

"I'm a great believer that any tool that enhances communication has profound effects in terms of how people can learn

from each other, and how they can achieve the kind of freedoms that they're interested

in."

Bill Gates

Consider the use of the Communication Tools in Moodle; continue the conversation via Twitter or via the Forums in our iMoot Course.

There is no better way to understand the tools than to have a play – come over to our course.

http://2013.imoot.org/course/view.php?id=460 (Earn badges!)

Images: Microsoft Clip Art #imootB2, #imoot2013